Sport

Carroll's just reward

Limerick SHC Final/ Garryspillane 2-15 Kilmallock 2-12: Tony Considine, a member of the Clare backroom team when they won the…

Mon Oct 17 2005 - 01:00

Limerick SHC Final/ Garryspillane 2-15 Kilmallock 2-12: Tony Considine, a member of the Clare backroom team when they won the 1995 and 1997 All-Ireland senior hurling titles, coached Limerick's Garryspillane to their first county title at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

A late flurry of points from veteran Frankie Carroll and Michael O'Donnell sealed their victory.

"It's a great occasion," said a delighted Considine afterwards. "All the more so after our narrow defeat by Ahane 12 months ago."

A tight free-ridden first half produced two penalties. Garryspillane, ahead by 0-5 to 0-3, had a glorious chance to increase their lead after 22 minutes when Frankie Carroll was fouled inside the square, but teenager Gavin O'Mahony blocked TJ Ryan's effort. Two minutes later Kilmallock won a penalty and though Andrew O'Shaughnessy's piledriver was parried, he regained possession to fire home.

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Dave Ryan pulled one back for Garryspillane, but two pointed frees from O'Shaughnessy left it 1-5 to 0-7 at the interval.

Garryspillane made the perfect start to the second half. Carroll levelled before Pat Tobin scrambled home a goal. When Donie Ryan knocked over two more points to extend their lead to 1-10 to 1-5 they looked set for a historic win.

However, Limerick minor captain Gavin O'Mahony landed two magnificent points to spark Kilmallock's revival. Veteran Mike Houlihan snatched a dramatic goal to bring the teams level again at 2-7 to 1-10, but almost immediately Donie Ryan replied with a goal for Garryspillane.

Points from Kilmallock's Paudie O'Dwyer and Eoin Ryan narrowed the gap to 2-10 to 2-9 and with seven minutes left the teams were deadlocked again at 2-11 each. Colm Hickey and O'Dwyer exchanged points, but late points from Martin O'Donnell and Carroll (two) sealed Garryspillane's victory.

GARRYSPILLANE: D Hayes; J Kiely, J Sheehan, A Noonan; C Hickey (0-1), Davy Ryan (0-3), T O'Donnelll; J Ryan, M O'Donnell (0-2); TJ Ryan, P Tobin (1-0), M O'Brien; Donie Ryan (1-3), F Carroll (0-6, five frees), E Bourke. Sub: S Burke for O'Donnell.

KILMALLOCK: T Hennessy; L Hurley, M. Cronin, R Murphy; A Maguire, B Carroll, D O'Shaughnessy; G O'Sullivan, P O'Dwyer (0-3); C O'Dwyer, M Houlihan (1-0), G O'Mahony (0-2); A O'Shaughnessy (1-4, four frees), P Connery, E Ryan (0-2). Subs: L Walsh (0-1) for Connery (38 mins), B O'Sullivan for K O'Dwyer (41 mins).

Referee: P O'Connor (Ahane).